Betulaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Betula populifolia

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Betula populifolia is a broadly pyramidal, deciduous tree, usually with several trunks; it can grow up to 10 metres tall[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental and can be used as a pioneer species for establishing native woodland and for reclaming land such as mine spoil tips. Betula populifolia is a very common species in the northeastern portion of its geographic range. There are no known threats that are or will adversely affect this species in the foreseeable future. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern N. America - Ontario to Nova Scotia, south to South Carolina

HabitatRocky or sandy open woods, moist to dryish slopes, old fields, and waste places; at elevations from 100 - 600 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. Margins of swamps and ponds, also in dry sandy or gravelly barren soils, growing well in poor almost sterile soils[ 82 Title Manual of the Trees of N. America. Publication Author Sargent. C. S. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Dover Publications Inc. New York. Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. , 229 Title The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Publication Author Elias. T. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Year 1980 ISBN 0442238622 Description A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions. ].